The 2016 Japanese Grand Prix (formally known as the 2016 Formula 1 Emirates Japanese Grand Prix)[1] was a Formula Onemotor race that was held on 9 October 2016 at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Mie, Japan. The race marked the 42nd running of the Japanese Grand Prix, the 30th time it has been held at Suzuka (28th time as a World Championship round), and the 32nd time that the race has been run as a World Championship event since the F1 inaugural season in 1950.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg entered the round with a twenty-three-point lead over teammate Lewis Hamilton in the World Drivers' Championship. Rosberg started the race from pole position and won the race, extending his championship lead to thirty-three points as Hamilton finished third behind Max Verstappen. Before the race, Mercedes held a 194-point lead over Red Bull Racing in the World Constructors' Championship, and with forty points for first and third places, secured their third consecutive title. In the Drivers' Championship, the field of title contenders has narrowed to just two (Rosberg and Hamilton) after the race. It turned out to be Nico Rosberg's final Grand Prix pole and victory, as he announced his retirement in December.

Lewis Hamilton fell to 8th at the start of the race due to a bad start which was compounded by being on the wetter side of the grid. For the second year in succession in the Japanese Grand Prix, all entrants were classified as having finished the race.

After the race, Nico Rosberg had enough lead in the World Drivers' Championship to win the title, even if Hamilton won all the remaining 4 races and he finished in second place every time - with this scenario happening, Rosberg won the title with a narrow 5 points lead (385 points, compared to Hamilton's 380).

After the race, Nico Rosberg had enough points lead to clinch the Drivers' Championship title if Lewis Hamilton would finish all the remaining races first with him being second - a scenario that ultimately happened during the rest of the season.

Bold text indicates who still had a theoretical chance of becoming World Champion.